AQUA

Exhibiting the same slow-burning electronic rhythms, twittering sound effects, twinkling keyboard melodies and late-night ambience found on his main body of work with Tangerine Dream, the real question raised here: is this really a solo album? Well, just about. Almost halfway between mid-period Tangerine Dream and the early- seventies output of Froese's ex-colleague Klaus Schulze, 'Aqua' is a hypnotic brew of keyboard-bred sonic patterns doused in the usual plethora of atmospheric sound effects. It's slowly-unfurling nature puts it alongside the likes of 'Rubycon' and 'Stratosfear', though pinches of Schulze's 'Irrlicht' and 'Timewind' can also be picked up by eagle-eared listeners who concentrate carefully enough. Those Tangerine Dream nuts who absolutely must have everything the group have produced will delight on what is essentially another group release, those who enjoy the early strains of retro-electronica are also advised to investigate. Decent then, but don't expect any big surprises.

STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012